TexasWoman’s University has gotten a $10 million gift from a foundation created by psychologist Richard W. Woodcock.

The gift from the Woodcock-Muñoz Foundation in Nashville is the largest single donation in TWU history. Woodcock is dissolving the foundation with the gift to TWU.

The new endowment will create the Woodcock Institute for the Advancement of Neurocognitive Research and Applied Practice at TWU.

“Improving the tools by which cognitive abilities are measured has been my life’s work,” Woodcock said. “Texas Woman’s University, with its multidisciplinary approach to education, research and clinical practice, is ideally suited to continue advancing this field and making a profound difference in the lives of others.”

Woodcock is the senior author of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities and Achievement. About $1 million in annual royalties from Woodcock’s tests will help support the institute on TWU’s Denton campus.

TWU chancellor and president Carine M. Feyten said the psychologist decided on TWU because of his work with Daniel C. Miller, professor emeritus and former chair of the university’s psychology and philosophy department. Miller has collaborated for decades with Woodcock on books and research projects.

Woodcock will join TWU as a research professor.

Women’s scholarships

The Northwood Woman’s Club has created a scholarship fund with Communities Foundation of Texas. It also announced its beneficiaries for 2014-15.

Club president Peggy Shuman said that starting next year, the scholarship will be given to one or more female students who live in Dallas or Collin County and plan to attend college or vocational school. The school also has an endowment for scholarships at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Shumansaid the club picked six beneficiaries from more than 50 grant requests. They are $40,000 each to New Friends, New Life and CASA of Collin County; $30,000 to Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County; $35,000 to Family Compass; $30,000 to ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship; and$35,000 to Network of Community Ministries.